The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. Adeleke Mamora has revealed that Nigeria is the first country in the ECOWAS sub-region to comply fully with the recommendations of the African forum on research and innovation (FARI).
The ground-breaking achievement was made known to the public, by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Monilola Udoh who represented the minister during the south-west zonal dialogue between government and stakeholders in the science, technology and innovation ecosystem on the establishment of technology and innovation centres (TICs) in Lagos.
According to the minister, the benefits of TICs are to “find the best way to ensure that products and services in our country are made to compete with the very best in the world, improve on the present understanding of the role of science, technology and innovation in the socio-economic development of Nigeria by the general public, towards moving Nigeria from a resource to knowledge-based economy (consumption to production), reduction/stoppage of the present research and development (R&D) work in Nigeria being carried out in silos”.
Mamora further said that under the Revised STI Policy 2022, Nigeria is geared towards having a large, strong, diversified, sustainable and competitive economy that will effectively harness the talents and energies of her people and responsibly exploits its natural endowments to guarantee a high standard of living for Nigerians by 2030.
He further stressed that in line with Presidential Executive Order NO.5 STI Policy of 2022 and the Abuja Adopted Recommendations of FARI, the protection of researchers, inventors and innovators will be assured with appropriate legal frameworks such as the issuance of patent and other intellectual property rights.
The minister assured that the next phases of the dialogues that will take place in the northwest, south south and northeastern zones of the country will continue to support the development of the country’s economy from being dependent on resource to knowledge.
Earlier, the national coordinator, Strategy Implementation Task Office for Presidential Executive Order No. 5, Engr. Ibiam Oguejiofor enumerated some of the objectives of the Order to include the promotion of domestic and foreign investments through creation of employment and stimulation of the economy through science, technology and innovation (STI).
A statement by Josephine Ademu for the ministry’s deputy director, press and public relations said Oguejiofor enjoined participants to use the opportunity of the dialogue to respond to government and participate in building a new Nigeria that is knowledge and production-driven.
In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner of Science and Technology, Hon. Hakeem Fahm represented by the director, science programmes and promotion, Dr. Iyabo Phillips reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State government to support “this laudable initiative of the Federal Government to fill in the infrastructural gaps in the state and also to give more people opportunities to benefit from the innovation hub”.
